If you want something different from your brownies, with minimal effort, then try these! I recently had a s’mores brownie at work and was inspired to try my own version. What could be wrong about marshmallows on top of a fudgy brownie, on top of a graham cracker crust?? Absolutely nothing! No, the brownies aren’t…
Author: Cara Forté
Apricot Chicken
If I had to guess, I started making apricot chicken 10-15 years ago. I first saw it on Rachel Ray’s show, 30-Minute Meals. I recently decided to try a stab at my own version and this is what I came up with! It’s an easy way to throw some flavor and color into your week!…
Chicken and Noodles
This has always been one of my favorite meals. When I was little, I had this tiny little spoon that had a looped handle. I would stand next to my mom with it and once the chicken was ready to take off the bone, she’d put some on my spoon for me to taste. I…
Classic Beef and Bean Chili
Growing up, I wasn’t a huge chili fan. There was nothing all that special about it. It always tasted good but I never thought to myself, “I really want some chili today!” That being said, I was watching some cooking show one day (normal day for me) and the recipe called for ground beef AND…
Magnolia’s Banana Pudding
I got this recipe from one of the sweetest people I know: my great grandma ♥️. I went to her house and learned how to make it straight from her and I use the term recipe pretty loosely because she’s old school and doesn’t actually use recipes. When we started, she told me she didn’t…
Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies
I started making these about a year ago. There was a Halloween baking competition at work and I was trying to find the perfect cookie to go with the theme. My solution was multi colored chips! I thought this was great! I had the normal chocolate chip, white chocolate chips, and orange colored, pumpkin flavored…
Mixed Berry Monkey Bread
I first learned how to make monkey bread in my 7th grade home ec class. I had never even heard of it but I was immediately in love with it and started making it all the time. The base recipe is pretty simple so it’s really easy to add whatever flavor you want. I chose…
Cranberry Apple Crisp
This has to be one of my favorite recipes mostly because of the original version of this. It’s comedy (at least to me it is). I was probably about 10 and this was the first recipe I had ever written. I have no idea where I got the inspiration. Maybe I was watching a cooking…
Lemon Pepper Hot Wings
This is my go-to Football Sunday meal. I love hot wings and I can get my fix without having to go to a local bar to get some good ones. Keep in mind, you don’t have to make hot wings. You can use whatever sauce you like. When I make these, I keep some plain…
Apple Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
These are so much better than store bought cinnamon rolls and you can honestly add anything to these to create your own favorite flavor. The dough is actually fairly simple and as long as you follow the directions, these are really hard to mess up. If you’re anything like me, you may want to double…
Vegetarian Lasagna
This has turned into one of my favorite dishes, not because it’s semi healthy but it just tastes good! I started making this about a year ago when I was doing “meatless Mondays” with one of my friends. I could make a big pan and have enough for lunch/dinner for almost a month of Mondays….
Quick and Easy Meatballs
I love making these because my son loves helping me in the kitchen and he’s always excited about meatballs. And getting him to sit still long enough to eat a meal, is an accomplishment. Whether we’re having spaghetti and meatballs or meatball sandwiches, I have a happy boy which makes me a happy mama. I…
Chicken Parmesan
I probably started making this when I was in middle school. I had gotten a Kid’s Emeril cookbook for Christmas and it had a great chicken parmesan recipe that didn’t require any frying. It’s so easy to make and has become one of my favorite go-to meals when I need some comfort food.
Spaghetti Sauce
This is the only way I’ll make spaghetti sauce now. I started making this a few years ago when I went on a pretty strict diet that cut out all processed sugar. You wouldn’t think it, but there is a lot of sugar hidden in most jarred spaghetti sauce. And like most of my recipes,…
Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
This is one of my favorite fall recipes. The first time I had this, was on thanksgiving or Christmas a few years ago. My aunt served this as an appetizer and I was immediately in love with it. I love this as a sweet soup, but you can also make this a savory version by…
Mint Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
This is a perfect example of how sometimes I’m just winging it in the kitchen (and in life, let’s be honest). I had every intention to do candy cane rice krispie treats and I went to reach for something in the pantry and saw cocoa powder. I love mint and chocolate so I decided to…
Roasted Chicken
Recently this has been one of my favorite things to make. I can throw this in the oven on a weekday and then go relax or I can make this on a weekend when I’m feeling a little lazy but still want something good.
Southwest Chicken and Rice
This actually started as a white chicken chili recipe and then one day I was thinking, “This would be good over rice.” Then I decided to add the rice to the pot in a similar way that I make chicken and rice. Now, when I make chicken and rice, this is the way I make…